Senior Spotlight: Samantha Marri

Saucon Valley senior Samantha "Sammy" Marri has played soccer since she was in elementary school. As the center mid player on the Lady Panthers team, she has defensive as well as offensive responsibilities. Although she will score when given the opening, Marri is primarily looking to gain control of the ball and set up goal scoring chances for her teammates. Saucon's Head Coach Stevie Ochsie commented that "Sammy has been a four year starter and a key reason to our success the last couple of years. She is a very coachable kid with a great work ethic." 

Samantha also has five years of experience as a player for the AC Perugia Premier Soccer Club, where she plays outside defense. As one of Pennsylvania's players in this elite Olympic development program, she has traveled around the U.S. to events such as the USL North American Finals in 2008. AC Perugia was the Core Showcase Champ in 2009 and a quarter finalist at the Disney Showcase in 2010. 

In addition to soccer, the 5'8" senior also played basketball for Coach Craig Mogel, scoring 70 points in her most recent season. Last fall, Marri was a very consistent, reliable runner on Coach Ed Kolosky's 26-0 Colonial League Championship cross country team as well. Although she said she will miss playing basketball and running cross country, Sammy will concentrate on soccer at either Duquesne University or the University of Scranton, where she wants to prepare for a career in physical therapy.

Samantha lists her late aunt, Celia McMenamin, as the person who has had the greatest influence on her. Although she lost a battle with cancer, McMenamin's "you must keep on going" attitude and her advice to "think of others besides yourself" made lasting impressions on the young Marri, and Sammy has worked diligently to raise more than $1,000 for cancer charities, in addition to serving as a volunteer in the therapy department at St. Luke's Hospital.  

Samantha is a high honors student, a member of Saucon Valley's chapter of the National Honor Society, a member of the Prom Committee and a member of the yearbook staff. She likes to hang out with friends, loves cookie dough ice cream and cannot wait for hot summer days, when she plans to spend time at her family's beach home on the Jersey Shore. 

Samantha is the daughter of Peter and Catherine Marri.